Lewis c



(No Model.)

L. G. PARKER. ELBTRI GNITING DEVICE FOR GAS ENGINES.

Patented NOV. 6, 1883.

INVENTUR.

WITNESSES UNrTED g p STATES "PATENT OFFICE.

Lnwis c. ranma or YoNKERs, NEW YORK'.

ELECTRIC IGNITING DEVICEFOR GAS-ENGINES.'

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 287,855, dated November 6, 183.

Application filed August 7, 1883. (No model.)

T a/ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEWIS C. FARKER,-a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Yonkers, in the county of'Westchester and tains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a cross-section of the cylinder of a gas-engine, showing the construction and arrangement of my improved electrical igniting device. Fig. 2 is aY plan or top view of the igniting apparatus, and Figs. 3 ,and 4 ared'etail views illustrating the mechanism for operating the igniting device.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the gures.

My invention relates to an improvement in the igniting devices of explosive gasengines, the object being to insure the prompt ignition ofthe charge of mixed gas and air behind the piston ofthe motive cylinder whichconstitutes the operating force. j f

To this end itconsists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, as hereinafter morefully described and claimed,

-of a current-breaker in connection with suit-g able electrical conductors terminating inside cal in shape, and made of cast-iron or any other suitable material. This plug has a longitudinal bore, a, countersunk at one end to form the seat a', and another tapering bore, b. Inserted through thebore a, and working smoothly therein, is a spindle,B, which is provided With a head, C, adapted to fit closely in a` countersunk seat, a. The head C is in the form of a circular disk, as shown inv Fig. 2, and

`is provided with a series of projecting pins or studs, D, of any suitable metal, arranged in aV circle around and in proximity to the periphery ofthe circular disk C, and equidistant from` 'one another. Inserted through the conical or' taperlng bore b is a metallic bushing, E,which `,is held firmly in place in the bore, but separated from contact with the body of the plug -by any suitable non-conductive packingsuch as porcelain, glass, rubber, asbestus, or any other suitable substance. Inserted through this bushing- E is a spindle, F, the head G of which has an arm, H, the outer end of which overlaps disk C. The plug A is fastened to one side of the cylinder by screws or bolts I inserted through the iiange A', and the `projecting outer end of spindle F passes through a non-conducting washer, J. Upon the projecting outer end of spindle F is secured at right angles an arm, K, and a spring` L, placed between the non-conducting washer J and arm K, operates to draw the head G of Aspindle F against its seat upon the inner end of bushing E. `Another spring, M, one end of which is fastened to any suitable part of the machine or machine-frame, and its other end to the free end of arm K, operates to press the inside arm, H, gently against the pins D, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In order to keep the head C of spindleB to its seat a', Iinsert a spring, N, between the outsideof the plug and a disk or pin, O, fast- -ened on the projecting outer end of spindle B,

and connecting the spindle with oneV of the.

electrical conductors from the dynamo.

I do not confine myself to any particular means or mechanism for operating the device, but prefer to use the mechanism which is illus trated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, and which is substantially the same as the operating mechanism for operating the currentbreaker shown anddescribed in the specication of my Letters Patent for a gasengine reissued February 20, 1883, No. 10,290, 'with some modifications-that is to say,1 on the outer end of spindle B,Ifasten a sprocket-wheel, l?, having a'series 0f equidistant peripheral proj ecting pins, Q, corresponding in number to the number of pins D upon head C. These4 pins engage a stud or projection, R, upon a disk or IOO bevel-wheel, S, which meshes with a bevelwheel, T, upon a shaft, U, which is the driveshaft of the engine, and is operated by the crank and piston rod, with ils connecting-rod, in the usual manner.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the operation of this device will readily be understood. A rotary motion being imparted to the wheel S its projecting pin or stud R will intermittently engage the pins or projections Q upon the periphery of disk P, thereby imparting an intermittent rotary motion to the spindle B. The current from the dynamo or other electrical generator flows through the spindle B in the direction of the arrow, and up through the disk C and pins D. The current from the other pole of the generator flows through spindie F and up into its head G and arm H. As long as spindle B remains stationary arm H will be in contact with one of the pins D, and the current will ilow uninterrupted through spindle D, head C, one of the pins D, arm H, head G, and the spindle F; but as spindle B is being rotated intermittently, either by the mechanism described or by any other suitable mechanism connected with or operated by the gas-engine, the current will be broken every time arm H slips from one of the pins D to the other, disk C being rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 2, and every time the arm slips from one of the pins to another a spark is produced, caused by the temporary breaking ofthe electrical current, by which the charge of mixed gas and air is ignited and exploded.

The advantages of this construction are its inexpensiveness, simplicity of construction and arrangement, durability, and the ease and certainty with which it is operated. If the pins D become Worn,they can easilybe replaced at a small expense, and by their intermittent contact with arm H both they and the arm are always kept metallically clean and bright, so that there will be no failure in producing the spark at the proper moment.

Having thus described my invention, Iclaim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesl. An electrical current-breaker or igniter for gas-engines, consisting of the plug A, having bores a b and countersunk seat a', spindle B, having circular head or disk C, provided with the pins D, insulated spindle F, having head G, and arms H and K, and spring M, constructed and combined, in connection with a suitable actuating mechanism, to operate substantially in the manner and for the purpose shown and set forth.

2. The combination, with the motive cylinder of a gas-engine, of the electrical currentbreaker or ignitcr herein shown and described, the same consisting of the plug A, having bores a I) and countersunk seat a', spindle B, 'having circular head or disk C, provided with the pins D, insulated spindle F, having headv G, and arms H and K, the springs L, M, and N, and a suitable mechanism operated by the gas-engine for rotating the spindle B intermittently, substantially as and for the purpose shown and set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEXVI S C. PARKER.

Vitnesses:

R. \V. VAN IELT, XV. A. DRINnWA'rnn, 

